Dental disease is the most common health problem in companion animals, causing chronic pain, systemic disease and reduced quality of life that is largely preventable with consistent home care.
Dental disease welfare is a silent epidemic - most companion animals live with chronic oral pain that owners and sometimes vets do not recognise because pain signs are subtle and disease develops slowly. Effective prevention requires establishing tooth brushing in puppies and kittens before disease is established - the earlier it begins, the more likely it is to be tolerated. Annual professional dental assessment under anaesthesia enables treatment of established disease and early intervention. The welfare dividend from dental disease prevention is significant - animals with healthy mouths eat comfortably, have better breath, avoid systemic complications and live longer. The barriers are owner time and commitment, not veterinary capability.